EULOGY
RABBI JENNIFER GERTMAN
Dear Judy, Sandie, Jeff and Cindy:
I could not help but smile as I thought of your stories about your father. They made me remember:
Oh the places you’ll go
oh the things you’ll do
you have brains in your head
you have feet in your shoes
you can steer yourself
in any direction you choose
Elliott Royce, was a man who always had places to go and things to do. He never stopped doing, thinking, creating or connecting. Born and raised in Minneapolis the child of two well-known personalities, it was no surprise that he knew everyone…and was known, by everyone. From the time he was a child, he was active in his community. In high school he was an dynamic member of the state winning debate team and a part of the first eagle scout troop at Adath. He continued debating at the University of Minnesota and was even on the same team as Hubert Humphrey. Then, in1939, after seeing a US Army flyer seeking out pilots, Elliott courageously decided to take up the challenge. Without telling his mother, who would not approve, Elliott began taking lessons. His plan was going along great until he was caught flying down the Mississippi river attempting to go under the bridges. Although Elliott loved and respected his parents, and treated his mother extremely well, he was not one to allow others to stop him from experiencing life.
Out there things can happen and frequently do
to people as brainy and footsy as you.
Elliott loved all the places that flying took him. He loved moving through space. He wanted others to be able to develop this same love so he moved to Cleveland to teach… and he even wrote a book. It was in Ohio, at the University of Ohio, that Elliott met Besse, the mother of their 5 wonderful children. He was bored one night and decided that he wanted to meet a girl. So, he went to the only place he could think of to meet a nice Jewish woman - the SDT sorority house. There he met Besse and she caught his attention. Elliott moved to Hollywood, Fl and deployed with the Navy before he was able to marry Besse and begin the family he treasured so much.
Elliott not only loved life, he valued it. He understood that each day was precious and made the most of every minute he had on earth. He was always thinking, inventing and creating. Maybe it goes without saying, but life with Elliott was never boring. He tried his hand in many fields and ultimately found fulfillment in real estate development, specializing in warehouses. Yet, it was his ever changing hobbies and his curious mind that kept him active throughout his life. As children Jeff, Sandie, Judy and Cindy remember their dad building an ice rink for them in the winter and a roller coaster when it was nice out. He was also fascinated by archaeology and science. Anytime he wanted to learn something new, he would dive deep and passionately into a topic going to the very top expert to learn more. One of several examples was when Elliot was in his 80s and he became fascinated by fire ants. Elliott reached out to the leading specialist in the field, and even went to Florida multiple times to meet with him (maybe talk about coming up with way to tape mating of red aunts)
You won't lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
To Elliott every problem had a solution and he could find it! This perseverance combined with his extremely generous heart made him unstoppable. When Southeast Asian refugees needed a home, he opened his doors and brought them in. When the carpet at the JCC was fraying, he began a letter writing campaign to raise money to fix it. He then brought in his own crew to get it done. He did not care what the JCC thought of this, he only cared that he repair this falling hazard. When Adath needed to start a Hevere Kaddish B’Emet he was there to help. From his leadership and his generosity many received opportunities they otherwise would not have.
You’ll find the bright places
where boom bands are playing.
Not only did Elliott find the joy in life, he brought joy to others. For his birthday Elliott would plan a picnic in the park and invite everyone he knew. If this were not enough, he would then make sure there was a new and engaging surprise every year. It was his birthday, yet he wanted to be sure that everyone doing and experiencing new things. It made him happy to be able to provide this. This desire to bring joy to others inspired him to wear his cat in the hat outfit while distributing coffee, tea and hot chocolate to those waiting at Park Nicollet. With Elliott behind the wheel this became more than just a drink cart. It was a hospitality station, a day brightener, a worry distractor. It was this hat, and many more that he wore around town, that helped to meet people and stay connected to the community in his older years. While some might let age slow them down and leave them isolated, Elliott never stopped meeting new people or making new friends.
On and on you will hike
And you will hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.
Even such a generous and caring man as Elliott makes mistakes. Elliott taught his children that perfection was not the goal. A life well lived is not one where no mistakes are made. It is one where each mistake teaches a lesson. Elliott always grew from his errors. When he did hurt another called them to ask for forgiveness. He never tried to hide from his mistakes. And , he valued others too much to ever hold a grudge.
Be sure when you step
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great balancing act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left
Elliot understood that life was a balancing act. He also understood the danger and fear of losing one's stability. This is why he decided to learn how to fall. He traveled to Hawaii to find a teacher who would instruct him. Once he returned he made sure to fall on an inflatable mattress every day. He also regularly jumped on trampolines to take the fear out of falling. Elliott learned how to gracefully mix up his right foot with his left. He then made it his mission to help others learn the same.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
Elliott lived a full, rich and successful life surrounded by his family. Throughout his life he turned every challenge into an adventure. When he stopped driving, he learned to take the bus, when he could not walk as fast he started riding a recumbent tricycle, and when the hills got steeper he added a motor to it. Nothing could stop Elliott from living life to its fullest, including pneumonia. He used his final days in the hospital to spend quality time with his children and grandchildren, talking, reminiscing and saying goodbye. He had the gift of truly knowing and understanding his family. He understood what each one needed from him throughout life and at the end. He understood their personalities and quirks and respected them even more for these. He saw the qualities his children inherited from him and which were their own. Because of this, and through his experiences in life, Elliott was very comfortable with the knowledge of his demise and allowed his family to experience his journey with him. He was inquisitive, thoughtful and generous until the very end.
Judy, Sandie, Jeff and Cindy your father left you a great gift, the gift of life. He taught you that nothing, not even the horrific loss of a child, can stop you from moving forward. Your father understood that Garry was with him always, as your father is now with you and your families. Every Time you make someone smile, every time you meet someone new, every time you give someone a chance, you will be living his legacy. Every time a challenge becomes an opportunity, every time you ensure your family can gather together from near and far, every time a stranger becomes family, you will be living his legacy. Elliott was truly a blessing, a blessing to his family, to the Jewish community, and to our city. He blessed us all through his life. Now we will bless him on his final journey, his final adventure.
RABBI JENNIFER GERTMAN
Dear Judy, Sandie, Jeff and Cindy:
I could not help but smile as I thought of your stories about your father. They made me remember:
Oh the places you’ll go
oh the things you’ll do
you have brains in your head
you have feet in your shoes
you can steer yourself
in any direction you choose
Elliott Royce, was a man who always had places to go and things to do. He never stopped doing, thinking, creating or connecting. Born and raised in Minneapolis the child of two well-known personalities, it was no surprise that he knew everyone…and was known, by everyone. From the time he was a child, he was active in his community. In high school he was an dynamic member of the state winning debate team and a part of the first eagle scout troop at Adath. He continued debating at the University of Minnesota and was even on the same team as Hubert Humphrey. Then, in1939, after seeing a US Army flyer seeking out pilots, Elliott courageously decided to take up the challenge. Without telling his mother, who would not approve, Elliott began taking lessons. His plan was going along great until he was caught flying down the Mississippi river attempting to go under the bridges. Although Elliott loved and respected his parents, and treated his mother extremely well, he was not one to allow others to stop him from experiencing life.
Out there things can happen and frequently do
to people as brainy and footsy as you.
Elliott loved all the places that flying took him. He loved moving through space. He wanted others to be able to develop this same love so he moved to Cleveland to teach… and he even wrote a book. It was in Ohio, at the University of Ohio, that Elliott met Besse, the mother of their 5 wonderful children. He was bored one night and decided that he wanted to meet a girl. So, he went to the only place he could think of to meet a nice Jewish woman - the SDT sorority house. There he met Besse and she caught his attention. Elliott moved to Hollywood, Fl and deployed with the Navy before he was able to marry Besse and begin the family he treasured so much.
Elliott not only loved life, he valued it. He understood that each day was precious and made the most of every minute he had on earth. He was always thinking, inventing and creating. Maybe it goes without saying, but life with Elliott was never boring. He tried his hand in many fields and ultimately found fulfillment in real estate development, specializing in warehouses. Yet, it was his ever changing hobbies and his curious mind that kept him active throughout his life. As children Jeff, Sandie, Judy and Cindy remember their dad building an ice rink for them in the winter and a roller coaster when it was nice out. He was also fascinated by archaeology and science. Anytime he wanted to learn something new, he would dive deep and passionately into a topic going to the very top expert to learn more. One of several examples was when Elliot was in his 80s and he became fascinated by fire ants. Elliott reached out to the leading specialist in the field, and even went to Florida multiple times to meet with him (maybe talk about coming up with way to tape mating of red aunts)
You won't lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
To Elliott every problem had a solution and he could find it! This perseverance combined with his extremely generous heart made him unstoppable. When Southeast Asian refugees needed a home, he opened his doors and brought them in. When the carpet at the JCC was fraying, he began a letter writing campaign to raise money to fix it. He then brought in his own crew to get it done. He did not care what the JCC thought of this, he only cared that he repair this falling hazard. When Adath needed to start a Hevere Kaddish B’Emet he was there to help. From his leadership and his generosity many received opportunities they otherwise would not have.
You’ll find the bright places
where boom bands are playing.
Not only did Elliott find the joy in life, he brought joy to others. For his birthday Elliott would plan a picnic in the park and invite everyone he knew. If this were not enough, he would then make sure there was a new and engaging surprise every year. It was his birthday, yet he wanted to be sure that everyone doing and experiencing new things. It made him happy to be able to provide this. This desire to bring joy to others inspired him to wear his cat in the hat outfit while distributing coffee, tea and hot chocolate to those waiting at Park Nicollet. With Elliott behind the wheel this became more than just a drink cart. It was a hospitality station, a day brightener, a worry distractor. It was this hat, and many more that he wore around town, that helped to meet people and stay connected to the community in his older years. While some might let age slow them down and leave them isolated, Elliott never stopped meeting new people or making new friends.
On and on you will hike
And you will hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.
Even such a generous and caring man as Elliott makes mistakes. Elliott taught his children that perfection was not the goal. A life well lived is not one where no mistakes are made. It is one where each mistake teaches a lesson. Elliott always grew from his errors. When he did hurt another called them to ask for forgiveness. He never tried to hide from his mistakes. And , he valued others too much to ever hold a grudge.
Be sure when you step
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great balancing act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left
Elliot understood that life was a balancing act. He also understood the danger and fear of losing one's stability. This is why he decided to learn how to fall. He traveled to Hawaii to find a teacher who would instruct him. Once he returned he made sure to fall on an inflatable mattress every day. He also regularly jumped on trampolines to take the fear out of falling. Elliott learned how to gracefully mix up his right foot with his left. He then made it his mission to help others learn the same.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
Elliott lived a full, rich and successful life surrounded by his family. Throughout his life he turned every challenge into an adventure. When he stopped driving, he learned to take the bus, when he could not walk as fast he started riding a recumbent tricycle, and when the hills got steeper he added a motor to it. Nothing could stop Elliott from living life to its fullest, including pneumonia. He used his final days in the hospital to spend quality time with his children and grandchildren, talking, reminiscing and saying goodbye. He had the gift of truly knowing and understanding his family. He understood what each one needed from him throughout life and at the end. He understood their personalities and quirks and respected them even more for these. He saw the qualities his children inherited from him and which were their own. Because of this, and through his experiences in life, Elliott was very comfortable with the knowledge of his demise and allowed his family to experience his journey with him. He was inquisitive, thoughtful and generous until the very end.
Judy, Sandie, Jeff and Cindy your father left you a great gift, the gift of life. He taught you that nothing, not even the horrific loss of a child, can stop you from moving forward. Your father understood that Garry was with him always, as your father is now with you and your families. Every Time you make someone smile, every time you meet someone new, every time you give someone a chance, you will be living his legacy. Every time a challenge becomes an opportunity, every time you ensure your family can gather together from near and far, every time a stranger becomes family, you will be living his legacy. Elliott was truly a blessing, a blessing to his family, to the Jewish community, and to our city. He blessed us all through his life. Now we will bless him on his final journey, his final adventure.